Are the big red ants a danger to the environment? I don’t know why people kill them.

K.W. Fort Worth

You are probably referring to harvester ants. Yes, they are beneficial to the soil and help maintain biodiversity. When the large, bare mounds are located in a problem place, the ants can be forced to relocate by putting shredded mulch over the mounds. They will move without being injured.

My child is growing tomato plants in an aquaponics system at school, fertilized by tilapia. What can we use to get rid of the mildew without harming the fish?

R.L., Dallas

Try 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from the grocery store or drugstore. Treat the water if necessary with 2 teaspoons per gallon if there are problems in the water. If the mildew is on the plants, use Bio Wash at 1 teaspoon per gallon. The plants also can be sprayed with hydrogen peroxide at 8 ounces per gallon of water in the sprayer. Apply a light mist to the plants so only a small amount of the spray drips into the water.

I live in East Texas with an abundant supply of clay on my property. Could dry molasses be an alternative to all kinds of poisons and help my grass grow?

D.G., Dallas

Dry molasses will stimulate the soil’s microbes and provide natural fertility. It is currently my organic fertilizer of choice.

I’ve been organic for more than 20 years. I’ve left the moles alone for years because I thought they naturally aerated my yard. But this last year the moles and large wasp-like insects that burrow into the ground are so prolific they are ruining my yard. Piles of dirt are so bad they cause you to stumble, and one friend actually sprained her ankle. What can I do to organically solve the problem?

M.P., Dallas

The wasps are cicada killers and will stop their activity now that the fall weather has arrived. Deter the moles with the granular Mole Scram repellent. If you haven’t already, apply dry molasses now and again in the early spring. The resulting biological activity will help keep the big wasps to a minimum next season.

I have a couple dozen post oaks on my 5-acre property. Since the drought, I haven’t seen any acorn production. We’ve lost about 30 percent of our cedars to drought and close to 20 percent of our oaks to hypoxylon canker. I know acorns come in cycles. Is there something that stands out to you as a marker for stress? Am I worried for no reason?

A.D., Fort Worth

Acorns don’t come in cycles. Their production is a result of weather and moisture in the soil. Drought is definitely a stress-inducer and is probably your culprit. Hypoxylon canker is a disease that pushes already sick trees over the edge. Applying lava sand at about 80 pounds per 1,000 square feet and covering all bare areas around the trees with native mulch would be your best approach.

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